Only choose sprinkles or chocolate flakes to meet a strict sugar-free requirement if the nutrition information states no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. This is the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim, as published via EUR-Lex. Céréal Hagelslag Puur does not meet it: Gezondheid aan huis lists 12 g of sugars per 100 g. If you’re mainly looking to reduce sugar, compare the nutrition information for the specific products. For everyday school breakfasts, Voedingscentrum recommends choosing mainly products from the Wheel of Five.
For you, ‘lower in sugar’ isn’t enough: you want to check the amount of sugars per 100 g against the EU threshold for ‘sugar-free’. The 12 g per 100 g listed by Gezondheid aan huis rules out Céréal Hagelslag Puur for this choice.
You want to keep using chocolate spread or sprinkles and compare different options. Look beyond the ‘lower in sugar’ claim on the front of the pack and compare the current nutrition information per 100 g for the products you’re considering.
You consider the topping as part of the whole breakfast or packed lunch. Voedingscentrum recommends choosing mainly products from the Wheel of Five; sweet sandwich toppings are not a substitute for those essentials.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should take this into account? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check the amount of sugars per 100 g. According to EUR-Lex, the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim applies to products containing no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | If I only want a topping that is literally sugar-free, an option labelled only ‘lower in sugar’ isn’t for me. This strict requirement comes first for around 40% of consumers. |
| Lower in sugar | Compare the sugars per 100 g in your chosen sprinkles or chocolate flakes with those in a standard alternative. Check the serving size too. | I want to keep using chocolate toppings, but be able to compare the sugar content of different options. This is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| The whole school breakfast | Consider which products make up the basis of the breakfast. Voedingscentrum recommends choosing mainly options from the Wheel of Five. | When planning breakfast or lunch, I want to consider the whole meal, not just the topping. Around 30% of consumers give this consideration priority. |
A product can contain less sugar than a comparable product and still exceed the threshold for ‘sugar-free’. Gezondheid aan huis lists 12 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur; according to EUR-Lex, the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.
If sugar-free is a strict requirement, check the amount of sugars per 100 g on the packaging rather than relying on a sugar-reduction claim.
An option with less sugar is still a sweet sandwich topping. According to Voedingscentrum, chocolate sprinkles and flakes are not part of the Wheel of Five.
Build your everyday breakfast mainly around products from the Wheel of Five. Treat sweet toppings as one part of the meal, not as a replacement for its essentials.
Albert Heijn points out that product ingredients, nutrition values and allergen information can change. This matters if you choose a particular option for dietary or allergy reasons.
Before use, read the packaging for the exact flavour and pack type you’ve bought.
Jumbo markets Céréal Hagelslag Puur as a chocolate sprinkles option with a lower-sugar claim.
Albert Heijn lists its own-brand chocolate sprinkles in milk and dark varieties labelled ‘lower in sugar’.
Jumbo lists both standard chocolate flakes and chocolate sprinkles options aimed at those looking for less sugar.
De Ruijter is a point of comparison for standard chocolate flakes, including milk, dark and extra-dark varieties, as listed by Albert Heijn.
No. ‘Lower in sugar’ doesn’t in itself mean ‘sugar-free’. Under the EU rules published via EUR-Lex, the latter claim can only be used for a product such as chocolate flakes if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutrition information for the specific option.
No. Gezondheid aan huis lists 12 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur, which is above the EU threshold of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
No. Voedingscentrum doesn’t include sweet sandwich toppings such as chocolate sprinkles and flakes in the Wheel of Five, and recommends choosing mainly products from the Wheel for breakfast and lunch. So consider the whole meal, not just the sugar claim on the topping.
Yes, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient or allergen. Albert Heijn says product information can change, so check the information on the packaging of the option you’ve bought.
